Points Table for Australia Skilled Migration (subclass 189, 190, 491)

To apply for these visas, you must first pass a skills assessment and meet the required points test criteria. It is important to note that before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), applicants must obtain a full skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.

Points System Information
Age Points
at least 18 but less than 25 years 25
at least 25 but less than 33 years 30
at least 33 but less than 40 years 25
at least 40 but less than 45 years 15
English language skills Points
Competent English 0
Proficient English 10
Superior English 20
Skilled employment experience
(for offshore applicants)		 Number of Years Points
Less than 3 years 0
At least 3 but less than 5 years 5
At least 5 but less than 8 years 10
At least 8 years 15
Australian skilled employment
(for onshore applicants)		 Number of Years Points
Less than 1 year 0
At least 1 but less than 3 years 5
At least 3 but less than 5 years 10
At least 5 but less than 8 years 15
At least 8 years 20

To claim points for employment under the points test, your work must be in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related occupation within 10 years before receiving an invitation to apply. Eligible Australian employment requires holding a substantive visa, Bridging Visa A, or Bridging Visa B while complying with all visa conditions.

  • To be considered "employed," you must have worked at least 20 hours per week for remuneration.

  • A closely related occupation must meet one of the following criteria:

    • Belong to the same ANZSCO Unit Group,

    • Align with a career advancement pathway, or

    • Be recognized by the assessing authority as closely related to your skills assessment.

The maximum employment experience points you can claim is 20 points, even if your total work experience exceeds that score.

Educational qualifications Requirement Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. 10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation 10
Specialist education qualification Requirement Points
  A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. 10
Australian study requirement Requirement Points
  Meet the Australian study requirement 5
Professional Year in Australia Requirement Points
  Completion of a Professional Year in Australia 5
Credentialled community language Requirement Points
  Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language 5
Study in regional Australia Requirement Points
  You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia 5
Partner Skills Requirement Points
  Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:
- were under 45 years old
- had competent English
- had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
- had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn't for a Subclass 485 visa.		 10
  Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English 5
  For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. 10
  You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident* 10